- Management and follow-up care of patients with drug (prescription & illegal) overdoses, pesticide, hydrocarbon, chemical, plant poisoning (accidental and deliberate), snake bite and insect bites
- Attending to emergencies with drug overdoses, pesticide poisoning, anaphylaxis, snake and insects bites and cardio-respiratory arrests
- Providing Intensive care treatment to such critical patients
- Functioning as a 24 x 7 information center, regarding poison ingestion and snake/insect bites with regard to its management in the country.
- Facilitating follow up care between the psychiatric unit at Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya.
- Conducting undergraduate training on a regular basis to University students of the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya.
- Conducting research with the collaboration of SACTRC (South Asian clinical toxicology research collaborative)
- Medical Services
Introduction
Medical toxicology is a science that focus on the diagnosis, management and prevention of adverse effects due to medication, toxins (environmental & occupational) and biological agents on living organisms especially the human beings.
Toxicology unit has fully equipped 3 bedded ICU, only toxicology unit in the country with such facilities. Bed strength of the unit is 40. Our team comprises of consultant Physician, 8 Medical officers, 16 caring nursing officers and 10 supportive staff.
The unit has been involved in managing medical emergencies, managing patients with drug overdoses, pesticide/chemical and plant poisoning. This unit functions as the premier center in the country for management, research and as well as an information center on snake/insect bites and poison related management in the country.
Our services :
Instruction public
- Pesticide poisoning
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- Pesticides (including mosquito coils, Run-Rat cubes etc), chemicals, hydrocarbons, prescription medication should be kept out of reach of children and depressed persons, at all times.
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- People should be encourage to avoid using pesticides , chemicals in normal house hold bottles and utensils which very often give rise to accidental ingestion
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- Accidental poisoning could be avoided/minimized by using protective gear at the work site (e.g.: mask, boots and separate clothing) and such methods should be encouraged among the farmers.
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- Pesticides should be kept away from the house (such as buried in the field in a secure place/ or under lock) and away from the reach of children or potential depressed persons.
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- Forced emesis is contraindicated.
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- Gastric decontamination such as activated charcoal or gastric lavage should be given only with the first 1-2 hours following ingestion.
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- Contaminated clothing should be removed and contaminated skin should be washed at the earliest.
- Drowsy patients should be intubated prior to gastric decontamination to prevent aspiration. Such intubated patients transferred from peripheral hospitals would have a better prognosis.
- Snake bites
- Should never use a tourniquet in the extremities
- Should wash the site as early as possible
- Immobilize the limb/person till reached the hospital
- Never seek local / ayurvedic treatment
- Specimen or the features would help in the management of the snake bite
- Anti-venom serum (AVS) could be given at any tertiary care hospital before transferring the patient to the toxicology unit.
- Patients should be encouraged to reach the Government hospital at the earliest. AVS should be started as soon as possible which will eventually give a good prognosis.
- Hydro carbons(petrol/kerosene oil), corrosives ( acids, alkaline) ingestion:
- Gastric decontamination not recommended
- Forced emesis is contraindicated
- All patients who have self-ingested pesticides, chemical, plant toxins and with drug overdoses should be referred for psychiatric assessment following completion of treatment for toxicity.
Clinic details
| First floor (OPD building) – Clinic room No. 1 Telephone 0812388001 (Ext) 239 |
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| Toxicology | Friday | 02.00 pm – 04.00 pm | Prof. Gawarammana |
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